ok… it’s Craft Weekend. Carissa (The Brown Eyed Fox) and Jess (the Macs) and Kimberlee are here and everyone is buzzing around me working hard.
Kimberlee is cooking… Carissa and Jess are making beds.
i did my pilates workout upstairs in the master bathroom this morning. ha ha ha
Stanley is even here with us tearing up any box he can find.
Avett Brothers on Pandora.
it’s a good good day.
i have a question for you?
what do you know about Proactiv?
.jpg)
i am curious for my teenage and tween children if it’s worth the cost… if it works… what are your thoughts?
is it different (better or worse) than the Acne Free line of products at the grocery store?
Also i feel like telling you that this week i ordered 10 different sports bras on amazon because i am SO SICK of wasting my precious alone time at a s sports store gross tiny fitting room trying on a bunch of bras!
you know what i mean? where you can hear dudes walking around outside the fitting room talking to each other and it feels like they are in the room with you?!!!!
so i just typed in my size and ordered 10 different ones that MAY possibly work.
then i emailed my husband and said Don’t Freak Out. I only need one and it’s free returns.
I just can’t waste another minute of my life trying on bras.
blahhh…. am i the only crazy one?
Another random thing.
have you ever heard of the Clarisonic Mia Sonic Skin Cleansing System
? I had seen them when i have had facials (after running the half marathon and on our post race spa days) I debated for over a year… then i decided to just see if makes a difference on my skin (that is now 38.5 years old).
and let me tell you… i have had one break out in the three months i have used it. ONE!
WHAT?!
i know right???
i use it every single night and it has been such a difference in my skin!
so i figured it was time to tell you!
ok…it’s time for me to get to work!
Craft Weekend is going to ROCK!
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg2(pp_w775_h775).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpeg)
Erin - Hi Meg! I used Proactive and was so hopeful it would work I stuck with it for 2 years. It made my skin worse! On top of that, they put you on an auto refill program. It was a big hassle to try and discontinue you “subscription”–I would say don’t do it!
The lovely one - My brother used pro-activ years ago and like it. I used Cetaphil and that’s always worked for me (but my acne was not as bad as his). I would start with the cheaper brands you can get in the store and then work your way up to the more expensive stuff if you need to.
Valerie @ Chateau a la mode - Proactive was a waste of money at our house! Maybe I’m too late for an opinion but saw this. Our dermatologist. told us not to believe those commercials. Good luck cuz pimples suck 😉
Christina - Victoria’s Secret sells sports bras now my daughter uses the ones that say maximum support. She plays soccer year round & loves them. They give her definition & not just one flat boob like most sports bars do. Also generally not a lot of men in the store & not in the dressing rooms for sure! Good luck
AnnMarie Denis - Proactive will stain your towels. It has bleach in it or something b/c whenever I used it and tried drying my face it left giant bleach stains on it.
Margie C - Be careful if you try Proactive. I bought it for my 15 year old and she tried it a week before her school dance. It made her eyes swell and caused major redness. We called the company and were told she must be having an allergic reaction to it and offered to refund our money. When I started researching I found out many people are allergic to it. Just FYI it took a week for her to look better.
Cory - Have used proactive for years and LOVE it! My skin is super dry and the lotion is very gentle.
brandi - just wanted to share about my proactive experience: i had been to dermatologist as a teen and nothing they gave me worked. LOVED proactive. didn’t dry my face out like so many others. the last lotion i put on did bleach my pillow a time or two, so i just stuck with light colored pillow cases. 😉
Valerie - I bought this last year ( Wacoal Women’s Sport Bra #855170) at Amazon and it’s the first sports bra that I’ve ever liked. I’ve always wished I could wear the cute kind, but alas.
I want to buy the Clairisonic. I’ve been thinking about it, but the price makes me choke a little. I should do it.
Beth - I agree w/others that Proactive stops working after awhile and is super harsh/drying to the skin so you have blemishes plus flakey skin – so not a good thing!!! I have true every over the counter and high end acne regime, but nothing really worked till I tried the products and regime at Acne.org. The price is reasonable and I’ve used the stuff for 4 years now w/hardly any breakouts.
Also, Title Nine has the best sports bras – worth every penny!!
Linda - I highly, highly recommend Mary Kay products. When my daughter was in those great teenage years she used the acne treatment gel and other skin care and even though we had gone to a dermatologist and could have paid megabucks for his recommendations, the Mary Kay provided her with much success and at a very reasonable cost – plus no ruined washcloths or towels. 🙂 And she has “graduated” into their other skin care products as a young mother. Feel free to email me at lbt2060@gmail.com if you’d like to know more.
Lee Ann - My favorite bra is by moving comfort. I have to have a padded one that has back clasps. Sometimes my arms are so sore and I’m so sweaty after a work out that I can hardly get the others over my head. One day I thought I was seriously stuck. Now that’s a funny picture 🙂
Deb Meyers - Don’t know about Proactiv, but wow, Adam Levine had serious acne? That’s encouraging for anybody, right?
How about sharing the Clarisonic with them?
Reducing sugar and wheat makes a big difference with any skin issues in our family. But that’s hard to do if the teen isn’t on board. So maybe introducing green smoothies (Start with Naked brand) would help.
d meyers
Kathy - Both my children have used Proactive. For my son it works great, he is still using it but he only has mild problems. For the people who complained about it bleaching things out, Target now has a line of towels that are supposedly not affected by it. Nothing worked for my daughter (we tried many different kinds) who ended up having to go to a dermatologist and is still having problems but we are getting there.
Rachael - I have used proactiv. It was not a life changer for me. About two years ago I started using a RX facial cream at night called Clindamycin and it changed everything. It’s very gentle feeling, no strong smell and it WORKS. My face is completely cleared up and both my teen daughters use it and have clear skin as well. 🙂
Lorie Yoder - I have used Proactiv for YEARS with great success. However, I had my teenage daughter use it, and it was almost too harsh for her, and never worked.
Since I have LOVED reading your blog for years, and LOVE watching you post craft weekend stuff…I am wondering…I have an etsy shop myself and would love to provide some swag for your guests for a weekend. How can I get it to you? address?
To check me out: (I’m not a creeper, just a mom and crafter)
website: vintagecountrygirl.blogspot.com, link to my shop on my site.
Maria - Hi Meg, re: Proactive…it does work, when nothing else seemed to work for my young teen. Then real downside is you will end up with boxes of step 2 & 3 under the sink, and they only ever run out of step 1. But you cannot order individually without paying way too much. I hate that! She has now been using Xout (also sold on TV) which is sold individually, and seems to work as good.
Mendi - My son uses the new X-Out by Proactive. He used to use a very long 3 step process (it might have even been 4 steps) that cost about $100 for a month supply and he hated doing so many steps. When I saw the new 1 step plan for only $19.99 I jumped at the chance to try it. He uses it much more faithfully than the other proactive and seems to have better results (maybe cuz he actually uses it).
Shelley - Ok, I suffered for years and years with acne (it started when I was 12, I’m 38 now)and about 2 years I finally cleared my skin up, but it wasn’t with proactive. It’s an amazingly cheap all natural product called sea buckthorn oil. There is soap and oil and serums etc, but highly recommend the bar soap and oil for spot treatment. BP is so hard on skin and through my own experience, a temporary fix. All I use on my skin now are all natural products, I am done with chemicals…Good luck, I can sympathize with anyone (especially kids) who have acne…
Seamingly Sarah - I would go see a GOOD esthetician first and have them tell you what is going on with your skin. The tips that have worked for me is to treat your face like a rose petal. If you wouldn’t do it to a rose petal, don’t do it to your skin – scrubbing. And don’t use things to dry up the oil. The oil is not the problem. Once you dry it up your skin Over produces oil, then the extra oil is a problem. Don’t use products that say oil free. And honestly, for a woman in her 30’s I finally have clear skin because I don’t wear make up and have to clean my face with anything other than water and use olive oil to hydrate it. That’s too much for a teen that is still producing plenty of oil for their skin, but it’s a fine balance.
Jennifer - I used Proactiv a million years ago, at least 15. While it didn’t do miracles for my skin, I did want to warn you about the issue I had-it has benzoyl peroxide and you have to be really careful with it. It ruined my towels, my sheets and the front of some of my clothing. I obviously wasn’t careful enough with it, but I ruined a lot of stuff. I found out my breakouts were related to diet coke believe it or not. I love that stuff in spite of all the scary warnings-but as soon as I quit it, my face cleared up.
Susan - I am 38 and have the drugstore version of the clarisonic that is made by olay and i REALLY like it. i keep it in the shower and it’s part of my daily routine. i don’t know how much better the clarisonic would be, but the olay one has been great for my skin, so i would def. recommend it for when the cost of the clarisonic is prohibitive. it might be good for a teen’s acne too.
Michele - I used Proactiv in my early 20’s and it worked…at first. Then it just stopped working. It made bleach stains on my pillows, sheets, shirt/jacket collars, etc! 🙁 I now use Purpose soap and Purpose lotion and my skin is very clear. I think a good diet is key. Try having your kids drink plain lemon water (with a straw to protect their teeth). It’s made a big difference for me. During football season, my son uses Coalface by Lush and it keeps his face clear. It’s just too drying in the winter–right now he uses the Purpose face wipes. Not fun for a teen, but laying off the fries, soda, chips, sugar, etc helps. When my son eats like crap, you can see it on his face!
Cindy - For my daughter, proactive was too strong. We had better luck for her with the Clinique line of acne products. Also, we had a prescription for the doctor…can’t remember what it was, just a topical cream….the most mild form…with all of them, you really have to give it a few weeks to give it to work, which stinks because the kids want their faces clear right now…and then if it doesn’t work, switching and trying new products for a few weeks to see if they work…we also tried neutrogena and clean and clear with not much luck…Clinique worked best for us.
Julie - When I was 13, my mom took me to the Clinique counter at the mall and bought the basic care system for me (the bar of soap, the toner and the lotion). The rule was I had to take care of my face before I could start wearing makeup, and it was impressed upon me that these products were expensive but would only work if I used them diligently. The other rule was, no hands on faces! I was fortunate to not be predisposed to serious acne, but I never had more than an occasional pimple.
I buy bras from Bare Necessities online — and I, too, overbuy, knowing I will send at least a couple back! BN has a good returns policy. I hate searching for bras in the store!
Jenny B. - For a second there, I thought this post was going to be a commercial for Proactiv. HAHA! 🙂
I tried it several years ago, and I didn’t think it was all that. I think it might have helped a little bit, but I quit using it after a few months because it totally bleached out my sheets where they touched my face at night. So… if you do decide to get it for your kids, invest in a bunch of cheap white sheets beforehand.
For the sports bras, I just got a new catalog in the mail… title nine. Have you heard of it? It’s new to me, but they have stores. There’s even one in KS. Anyway, they have some (for us busty girls) that I’m thinking about trying.
Michelle - My son used Proactiv when he was around 15 and it really didn’t work that well. You have to be so thorough with the whole system and he was not good about that. We started ordering from Melaleuca shortly after and their similar product worked much better. Don’t know if you’d heard of this company out of Idaho. They have natural cleaning products, etc. The most significant difference came one lent season and he gave up all beverages and only drank water. He lost 10 pounds and his acne cleared dramatically. I really blame dairy like milk and cheese for most of the problems. My husband, who is 54, even had breakouts and since giving up dairy he no longer does. Happy Craft Weekend!
Flower Patch Farmgirl - I was just wondering about that Clairsonic thing. Everyone raves. But so pricey! So the question becomes: Fun new purse, or Clairsonic? And I’m sure you’ll say Clairsonic b/c blah blah blah, but I’m weirdly leaning purse.
???
Lisa - I use tea tree soap from Goat Milk Stuff. I love supporting the family owned company and it works amazingly!! I would suggest at least trying it before you spend proactive kind of money! It’s all natural so I like that too, proactive was too harsh on my skin and didn’t do much.
ingrid - Proactive. It’s great for mild to moderate acne. My daughter had severe acne and it simply aggravated it. It dried out her skin which just added to the problem. We tried everything from over the counter to prescription meds. The ONLY thing that worked (and the only thing I had trouble saying yes to) was birth control, which ended up being like a miracle cure for her.
Karey - Proactive is the only thing that works for my skin. It didn’t work for me to get the shipments in the mail because I was receiving more than I was using. There is a proactive vending machine in the Wichita towne east mall outside of Dillard’s. I always buy from there and can get the specific product I need when I need it. They do have little trial boxes. You could get one for your kids and let them try it out. Oh, and I love your blog by the way. I live in the same town as you and have run into u sometimes in the north grocery store. I always want to say hi but then feel silly 🙂
Gina - I used to use Proactiv when I was in college and it totally changed my skin! If they actually use it consistently, it will make a huge difference. I think it’s worth the money!
Lori H - Meg, my kids used ProActive for a while and it did seem to work. I consulted our dermotologist and she said that it works because the kids see it as a “program” and therefore use it per instructions. But when used faithfully, most acne products would work as well. One downside to ProActive, my kids are in college and I STILL get regular emails from them asking me to “come back” – even after asking them to stop 🙂
Annette - Love Proactiv…We tried every (EVERY) product/system we could find at Target/grocery/drug store. My tween’s skin was getting worse and worse and she was getting more and more self-conscious. We were on the verge of taking her to a dermatologist when we tried Proactiv as our ‘one last thing’. It worked!!! She is extremely conscientious about using it properly (it’s pricey) and while we saw a noticeable improvement right away, after 4 months of use, her skin is consistently clearer. Occasional breakouts happen, but it is more like a pimple appearing than the eruptions we were used to.
Martha - My son used Proactive and it worked great….at first. It stopped working after a few months. An elderly Hispanic woman that he worked with told him to use honey. We googled it and found a recipe using honey, lemon juice and baking soda. It’s easy, natural and it works! The only draw back is it’s a bit messy but, hey I think it’s worth a try!
Martha - Sport bra- I am a 34f and then only sport bra that I have ever been happy with is the panache. It is the best I am a runner and have been very happy. Worth every penny.
laura oyler - 2 more things I forgot to mention-1. Obagi doesn’t bleach anything like Proactiv apparently does. 2. It is a multiple step system that is supposed to be done 2x a day, but I only do it at night and it still works great for me!
laura oyler - I don’t know much about Proactiv, but I have tried a lot of acne products. I am 19 so I still have teenage acne. My very favorite is the Clenziderm system from Obagi. I use the normal to oily system, but I actually have dry skin so I add in the moisturizer from the dry to normal system. Since I started using it I get way less pimples! I think I have been using it for 1-2 years now. I get it from my esthetician, but you can buy it on amazon too. I believe it is more expensive than proactiv, but I really do love it and it is worth it to me. My mom and 2 of my sisters also use Obagi products. I have lots of tips on how to use it! Microdermabrasion at my esthetician’s office also really helps me get rid of acne and also helps with scarring, but it is a little expensive.
Michelle - When I met my husband, he had extremely bad, cystic acne and had been using Proactive for about 3 months. He was very disciplined about using it, too – he used all the products and followed the directions EXACTLY. Just between you and me, it never did any good.
Changing his diet helped (as a single guy, he was eating a lot of take out, greasy stuff, etc.).
Now we both use just sunflower oil mixed with castor oil (I use the same combination to remove my makeup). We also use Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner. I wash my face at night and use the toner in the morning after I shower. He washes his face at night and immediately uses the toner. In the shower, we both just rub our faces gently with a washcloth.
I had a Clarisonic, but my sister is a microbiologist and she was totally skeeved out at what kind of bacteria could be hanging around in the brush heads. So, I’m back to using washcloths. (I bought 40 white washcloths and 40 white hand towels at IKEA that are ONLY FOR FACES.) I love my husband and childrens to bits, but I don’t want to wash my face with the same cloths they wash their feet with – even if I launder it in between.
Susan - I have used Proactiv for several years and it definitely works. In fact, it worked so well, I thought I didn’t break out anymore. But the minute I stopped using it, I started to break out again. I use the Extra Strength products. I only use the cleanser and the lotion, I skip the toner. Also, I have had no problem with bleaching of my clothing, etc. I even wipe the excess from my hands onto my colored towels, and haven’t had any problem.
Amy - I love the MyChelle teen line for my 12 year old daughter. It has a cleanser, clarifying pads, balancing cream, and a spot treatment.
Love my Mia 2! 🙂
Heather S. - Oh Meg – I used to make fun of people that bought lots of things and then returned them. Then I had children and began teaching and running ministries and I found this year that I am now the woman who orders lots of things FULLY KNOWING I will be returning them. Free shipping, easy returns, etc….I look for it all because I know I’m not keeping it all. Crazy. But, I hear ya on the sports bra thing. You made a good call.
tracy fisher - hi meg. I had to respond regarding teen zits!! haha. my daughter has to keep her skin as clean as possible due to some modeling she’s working on… we LOVE the Mary Kay little trial kit for zit zapping. I can’t remember what it’s called. If you need the info, email me at tfisherart@comcast.net. brooke loves it and I am happy that she loves it. and it is really affordable (that’s really why I like it..haha). teen skin is so fickle. I’ve been away creating a new blog and trying to figure out life in general. i’m back. looking forward to catching up on a month or two of your posts this weekend. tracy fisher
denise @ victory rd. - I went out on a limb and purchased Proactive for my teenage daughter. We’re VERY happy with it. VERY!
Have a blast at Craft Weekend!
Chelsea - Skincare is such a tricky thing. What works for some doesn’t always work for others. I personally couldn’t handle Proactive, it burned my skin like crazy. It also hasn’t done anything for my teens acne, but I know it works for some people. My recommendation would be to see your dermatologist, sometimes taking an antibiotic or getting on accutane is more successful than using an intense line of cleansers. Especially with teenagers who most likely won’t follow all the steps that some of the skincare lines require. Good Luck and I’d love to know what you end up doing…..
Alicia @ La Famille - My brother and sister used ProActiv in their teen years and it really worked for them. They tried everything! Also I want one of those scrubby things.
Michelle Skalet - I used Proactiv for awhile and it seemed to work really well. I had to be careful though because I have sensitive skin and if I’d use it too much… my skin would start to look like leather… especially below my eyes. I later switched to the walmart equate version of Proactiv and I thought it worked exactly the same. It’s less than 1/2 the cost of Proactiv too!
Tracey - Proactiv wasn’t the cure all it claimed for my son and the results definitely did not warrant the cost. Acne free is a bit better. Right now we are trying tea tree and lavender essential oils. These have been the best at helping the cystic looking spots but his face is still pretty broken out. I think we are going to end up going to the dermatologist for a prescription
Bec - Proactiv was really awful for me. It basically burned off the top layer of my skin and left my face raw and dry. Target brand cream cleanser and their blackhead scrub plus a light moisturizer have been my winners. I use the Norwex face cloth as well, but probably not a requirement for kids. Change their pillow cases often 🙂 and push water drinking. Much cheaper than proactiv!
Liz - I’ve used proactive for 2-3 years and it works great. I tried the store brand and didn’t like it. I have sensitive skin and when I started I could only use proactive every other day. I know use it every morning. Love love love it.
I’ve got nothing on the bras. I bought an expensive Athleta one, with an underwire, the underwire popped out. So annoying. I’d love to hear what you find!
Kristin S - Randoms are my fave.
Sports bras. I’m a 34DDDD and hate to bounce. Moving Comfort Fiona is my all time favorite. I don’t like ones I have to maneuver over my head when it’s all wet and sweaty. I sweat. A lot. It has to have a back clasp. They carry them lots of places but I try to hunt for them on sale.
http://www.rei.com/product/718027/moving-comfort-fiona-sports-bra
Have a fantastic weekend!
Tessa - We bought Proactiv for our 13, almost 14 year old son and the biggest problem is getting him to use it. It is a 3 step process and it is recommended that it be done 2x a day. If your kids are not highly motivated in the self-care department, it is not a good fit. I wish we would have just stuck with something much simpler like a quick face wash. As far as its effectiveness? Hard to tell when he is using it so inconsistently! 🙂
Angela - Check out this guide. While you’re there, read the measuring advice as well. So many women wear the wrong size!
http://www.reddit.com/r/ABraThatFits/wiki/sports_bras
Libby - I can’t wait to hear about craftweekend!! I LOVE the entries on Crafting, and what God is doing in your life!!! You are so creative and lovely.
Lori - My 14 yo daughter has used Acne Free (for sensitive skin) for a year and it has worked well for her…try it out it out since it’s easy to pick up locally! Also, if Acne Free doesn’t work for your kids, Clarisonic has a teen kit…more pricey but you already know how awesome it is so it might be worth it!
cheryl - I’ve never used proactiv but my husband has sworn by it for 10+ yrs. He was on accutane as a teenager for acne…and tried every over the counter product under the sun since…and he’s had great results with proactiv. He doesn’t do the whole “3 step system” though…we just get a shipment of 3 bottles of cleanser each time.
Necole@seriouslysassymama - I had acute cystic acne in my early 20’s, and proactive did not work for me. It is probably good for basic teenager acne. I use a glycolic scrub from dermae.
Tanya - My sister has worked in the skin care industry for almost a decade. She said the difference between Pro Activ and grocery store brands is the alcohol content. She said the most comparable thing to Pro Activ you could buy at a grocery store is a bottle of rubbing alcohol. (yikes!) She said it also depends on where the breakouts are happening. If it’s on the forehead it can be because of bangs or hair products or food related digestion issues. Cheeks can be from not washing makeup off. Chin can be hormonal. If it’s for teens – she recommended Clear Start by Dermalogica. You can buy it online or at a spa that carries Dermalogica.
Wendy - I love my Clarisonic!! I use it with Neutrogena Naturals face wash. I’ve never used Proactive for my children but my sister has used it for her daughter with severe acne but with no improvement (and this young lady followed the instructions religiously).
Hailey - First time comment, just found your blog and I love it! But I used proactive for probably 8 months and I found it dried my skin out completely and the bleaching agent in it destroys towels. I still get flack for ruining one of my Gramma’s towels even though I dried my face off on a rag first. It bleaches the colour right out of fabric and it made me wonder what was happening to my face! Just my 2 cents 🙂
Verena - Love the MIA!!! Have mine for almost two years! Use it every day , still going strong. Def.worth it’s money!
Colleen Sullivan - Purpose soap for initial oilness, neutrogeona oil free acne wash as breakouts begin or another product with a salicylate, then add a benzoil peroxide preparation in a tube are the order for non prescription acne meds. Sounds like proactive has a medication close to prescription strength in it as the dermatologist warned us of the same thing re bleaching effect on towels and pillowcases. I use all white anyway so dont notice it! See if your insurance covers the prescriptions as it might be cheaper and potentially more effective if you can find a good dermatologist in your area
Jess Noble - Proactive totally works. I still use it!
Dana - Although I have never used it, I hear Proactiv is great. What about the ten one I am always seeing on the commercials, (X Out) I think that is a proactiv brand too. But U have heard about the bleaching of everything.
Midwest - Has anyone tried the Olay ProX cleansing brush? I’m wondering if it works as well. Even if you had to replace it after a year, it’s SO much cheaper. I’ve been wondering about proactive for my 15 yr old too. So thanks for asking!
Southern Gal - My son suffered from acne. We tried Proactiv, but it wouldn’t touch his. He ended up on Accutane which cleared him up fabulously. It probably works fine for minor acne blemishes.
Marla - I have used ProActiv for about 10 yrs now and I love it. I use the 3-step system(cleanser, toner, lotion) and none of the misc. products that go with it. It has never stopped working for me and I won’t stop using it, even though I’m mid 30’s now. Yes, be sure to use an old towel(or white!) to dry your face afterwards and an old tshirt b/c it will bleach. I say give it a try! And the bottles do last longer than what they say…the 30 days or 60 days, I can usually get to last me an extra month.
stephany - I used proactiv years ago…in my late 20’s early 30’s. It seemed to work. Seems like a lifetime ago, though.
Confession. I have a big crush on Adam.
Have a wonder filled weekend…those women are in for a lot of fun!!!
Jenni - I would recommend Rodan and Fields. It is sold by independent consultants ( I don’t sell it), people have great success with all sorts of skin issues. Here’s my friends info who does sell it: https://eeandersons.myrandf.com/
Kerrin - Hi Meg,
I used Proactive for years and it is worth every single penny. My only warning about it would be this. If you don’t rinse your face well enough you will stain your pillow cases and towels. As in bleach style stain. I recommend white towel, face cloth and pillowcase. Other then that you (If it is for you, please take another look in the mirror cause girlfriend, your skin is amazing!) will love the results you get.
Have a great craft weekend!
Jennifer - I used ProActiv years ago before my wedding, and it worked well for me. It is pretty pricey though. I think I only used it for maybe 6 months.
I have also tried the AcneFree kind, and it worked OK. I felt like ProActiv didn’t dry my skin out as badly, but I didn’t have teenager skin/acne either.
The key to any of it is USING it. Once it became a habit, it wasn’t so bad, but you have to force yourself to do all three steps nightly. I’ve never been very good about keeping up with habits like this, and I know I wouldn’t have done it when I was a teen.
If you’re on the fence about a teenager using it, maybe you could try the store brand and give them 2 months. If they use it consistently for that long and it’s not working (or is too harsh), you could spring for the ProActiv.
I will say the ProActive refining mask is the best thing I’ve ever used. You could put a dab on a zit and sleep with it on, and the zit was gone the next day. Awesome for those times when you break out right before a big event.
Amber Hatcher - If you don’t find a bra that works for you I highly suggest trying Title Nine. It’s a “for women, by women” type of company. If you call them you will get a FEMALE person. Not a computer. They have tons of different bras for varying degrees of support needed. I’ve called them before and when she wasn’t sure she actually went a got the product to look at it while I was on the phone. They’re an awesome company and I’ve always been pleased with them and their product. Good luck!
Margaret - 1) I have to agree with everyone else about ProActiv. It worked for about a year before it seemed to stop and I switched to something else. A few years later my acne was bad enough that I tried it again and it stopped working after about 6 months that time. I bought new towels and realized it bleached them after 1 or 2 uses. So I called it quits with ProActiv for good.
2) I want a Clarisonic so badly. Everyone I know who uses it loves them. I may have to splurge for that soon.
Lauren - I used Proactiv in my awful, ugly teenage years.
Pros: It really does work if you use it religiously. I seriously looked amazing after having used it a couple weeks.
Cons: It tends to stain everything orange (besides white fabric) that touches the face. I ruined sheets and towels and clothes because of it.
Siew - I LOVE my Clarisonic Mia. Its silly, when I rave on about it I get people to touch my cheek, which they think is kind of weird until they see how smooth it is. Like a baby’s bottom. Its the best.
Sara - Oh dear, I’m afraid I’m terribly unhelpful in all things fancy skin-care related. I use a plain bar of soap, that’s it.
BUT, I’m so happy to hear Craft Weekend is happening again!! You ladies have so much fun! I can’t wait to see IG pics 🙂
Vanessa - OK about ProActiv – It works! For a while – and then it’s sort of like antibiotics; if you use it too long then it isn’t as effective. The bad part – the acne gets worse in the first couple of weeks (but then it works!), it turns every washcloth/towel you own bleached so you have to use white for EVERYTHING – including pillow cases. That was the kicker for me! I hated everything being stained and I liked my colored towels/pillow cases! It even stained collars on shirts, but it DOES work!
Ashlea - Go to acne.org and watch the video for their “regimen”. It doesn’t require a specific brand, its just the way you do things! I’ve tried a lot of different products without success, but once I started washing my face and doing what the video says, my skin has been so clear! 🙂 Good luck!
Jenn - I order multiples of things and return all but one all the time. You are not alone.
Good to know about the Clarisonic. I’ve been wanting to get one.
Happy Craft Weekend! One day I’ll be there.
Molly - i had very good luck with proactiv. i had issues from 18 on until i started using proactiv. after a year or so i switched to acne free or the equate brand from walmart. those work too. i would maybe start with those and see if they work if not give proactiv a try. i think it is a little better. i will use these with my daughters when the time comes…even if they aren’t struggling that badly. i think they are just a good system for that time in life.
kimberly oyler - any person on the whole planet that i know who has used proactiv said it quit working after a year.
Beth Ann - I have no need for Proactiv, but Adam MAY have just sold me…….
Do tell which sports bra you end up liking. I have not had much luck. I have considered purchasing luluemon, but ouch on the price and I’d have to order online and have heard bad things about their return policy.
Emily - Love it.
Three things.
1. I use Acne Free every summer (breakout season) and love it. Was about to try Proactive and my friend suggested Acne Free. Takes care of all my issues.
2. Lululemon bras are worth the price.
3. I guess I need a Clairisonic! 🙂
Have a GREAT Craft Weekend! Tell Jess hi!
Jessica Jackson - Bless you for doing the sports bra research! I’ve sent back so many in the last month and still can’t find a perfect one for my D cup (nursing) boobs. Please report back with your favorite!